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joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam
The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.
Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.
Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!
Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.
Click here to report a problem with this page.
Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "western union" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "money gram" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "mtcn" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "million united state dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- jamesentwistle.ambassador2014@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
- +234 -808 988 3750 email address: (jamesentwistle.ambassador2014@gmail.com) dear: beneficiary i am dr. dike efe secretary to u.s (Gmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
- jemesentwistle1001@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Dike Efe" <bv@jjnjn.cn.tn>
Reply-To: <jamesentwistle.ambassador2014@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 13 Mar 2016 19:20:18 +0100
Subject: FUND RELEASE
FROM THE OFFICE OF U.S AMBASSADOR TO NIGERIA
PLOT 1075 DIPLOMATIC DRIVE
CENTRAL DISTRICT AREA, LAGOS
PHONE: +234 -808 988 3750
EMAIL ADDRESS: (jamesentwistle.ambassador2014@gmail.com)
Dear: Beneficiary
I am Dr. Dike Efe Secretary to U.S Ambassador to Nigeria I have been ordered by my Boss Ambassador James Entwistle to email you concerning your compensation fund which the Nigeria Authority approved on your Favor. The Ambassador has been ordered to deliver a Check of US$25Million (Twenty Five Million United State Dollars Only) to you as a compensation of your lost to the Nigerian Imposters. He shall be coming to your country by next week for an official meeting and he will be coming along with your Check of US$25Million which has already been sign and approved by the Nigerian Authority.
This payment was approved by the Newly Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari at the last UN meetings held at Abuja the Capital of Nigeria on Jan 9th 2016, to compensate all scam victims who has lost money to the Nigerian Imposters. You are among the list of beneficiaries whose parcel was submitted to our office for delivery and for that reason you are advice to provide this office with the bellow information for the delivery of your Check.
You’re full Name
Complete house address
Mobile telephone number
Copy of your Passport or Drivers License for Identification.
Note: The Nigerian Authority has been in contact with your Government and they have made it clear to us that your Check (US$25Million) must be registered as an ambassadorial package with a Custom Stamp Order for him to defeat all odds when he arrives in your country. Meanwhile the cost of registering the Check and custom stamp order is $100 for both the registration and Insurance. This fee must be paid within 72hrs via Western union or Money Gram so that all necessary arrangement can be made before time will be against the Ambassador.
Bellow is information for the payment of the $200 via Western union or Money gram
Receivers Name…….Ify John
Text Question……….Color
Text answer…………Blue
Location…………….Lagos Nigeria
Amount……………..$100
Senders Name…………..
Senders address………..
MTCN…………….
As soon as you send the fee make sure you send me the payment information. As the Ambassador flight is Thursday Next week so you are expected to comply before then so that the delivery can be completed successfully. If you do not comply, you have to blame yourself for not receiving your fund and also Note that the Ambassador will be going with you to your bank to deposit the check and wait for 72hrs to enable the check clear before he leaves.
You can email the Ambassador at (jemesentwistle1001@gmail.com) or contact me (dikeefe_234@yahoo.com)
You can also call me at +234 808 988 3750
YOURS SINCERELY
Mr. Dike Efe
Secretary to U.S Ambassador To Nigeria
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